WEEI’s Kirk Minihane is the regular co-host of Kirk and Callahan. We last wrote about Minihane when Tom Brady hung up on him during an interview after Minihane asked some very reasonable questions about Brady’s trainer, Alex Guerrero.
But in earlier August, Minihane also took leave over mental health concerns, tweeting that he’d checked himself into a hospital after experiencing suicidal thoughts:
I’ve talked a lot about my issues with depression, and I’ve battled it the last three months or so. Last Thursday night I checked into the ER at Winchester Hospital with suicidal thoughts. I was then moved to McLean, where I was treated and released earlier this week.
— Kirk Minihane (@kirkmin) August 9, 2018
I’ll be back at work tomorrow, and I’m a little nervous about it. But I’m not ashamed or embarrassed. And we’ll do what we do – we’ll talk about it.
— Kirk Minihane (@kirkmin) August 9, 2018
Obviously Minihane did return to work, but today he tweeted that he’ll be taking a leave of absence for further treatment, revealing he may have returned too soon:
I’m going on an indefinite leave from the show. Still battling mental health issues. Truth is I came back to work too fast. Wish I could be there with @GerryCallahan, @_ChrisCurtis and @KenLairdWEEI – I love those guys very much. I’ll be OK and sorry I’m leaving you all with Mut.
— Kirk Minihane (@kirkmin) September 6, 2018
Minihane’s first absence was obviously not a lengthy one, and good for him for being able to recognize his own needs and take time to address them. As anyone who’s dealt with mental illness of any level knows, that’s not an easy first step, and it’s especially not easy when you’re in the public eye.
Hopefully he gets the treatment he needs. Regardless of your thoughts on his on-air persona or his show in general, suicidal thoughts are serious, and everyone deserves help.
The National Suicide Prevention hotline is also available at 1-800-273-8255.
